why do people still use macs?

[rkr1958]

You have to admit that the Mac-PC commercials are very funny. I'm a PC user but when TIVO'ing over the commercials I'll stop if I see a Mac-PC one.

One of my co-workers said that a great comeback for the PC would be a commercial showing the difference in careers and lifestyles between PC and Mac. PC, the geek, who would have a very well paying job, would get into a nice car headed back to his nice home. While Mac would get into his beat up compact to go deliver pizzas. That would be a funny comeback.

[mats.hogberg]

Yeah, I love those too. But even funnier is the Wii vs PS3 video. But I'm not 100% sure that's genuine.

/Mats

[PuzZLeR]

@rkr1958: Although the comical comeback would be a bit harsh, you make an interesting point here. The biggest reason for my hesitation to get a Mac is not technical, it's the fact that I would be subscribing to a different philosophy that, well, I admit, kind of frightens me and may change who I am. Seriously, I wouldn't have considered a Mac today if they didn't currently handle Windows as well. So, for me, yes there *is* a reason to use Macs (thread title).

We can argue night and day which is better. The bottom line is that a Mac and a PC are two different religions. Simple. Obviously this can breed very intense feelings and passions. (No wonder this discussion almost went political.)

Speaking seriously here, you can have a religion that has over 20x more worshipers, but would you call it "better"? Certainly not.

Same thing here. You're buying into a computer that fits your lifestyle and beliefs about how computing should be. There is no *better*.

And now I'm done with this thread. Kudos to the Mods. Good work.

Later my friends. See ya in another thread.

[rkr1958]

Yeah, I love those too. But even funnier is the Wii vs PS3 video. But I'm not 100% sure that's genuine.

/Mats

Just last Friday I ordered a Wii for myself, my wife and seven year old son. We're expecting to get it today. We were looking for a gaming system that was fun and easy to use and learn. By the way, I enjoyed the Wii vs PS3 video.

[narquespamley]

Wow, some serious ignorance and arrogance here. Who would have thought?

Re/the crack about the CPU in the Mac Mini being the same one as in the Vista machine - actually, you've got it wrong. The Mac Mini uses a mobile CPU, so the power consumption is comparable to that of a laptop.

I'm not even going to dignify the insult. Get a life.

[aedipuss]

guess it never occurred to me an engineer would intentionally cripple the performance of a desktop with a mobile cpu. but there's apple for ya...

[edDV]

guess it never occurred to me an engineer would intentionally cripple the performance of a desktop with a mobile cpu. but there's apple for ya...

It was all about engineering. A mobile CPU allows a smaller cheaper "mini" power supply and reasonable cooling in a small case.

Mac Mini


PC with desktop CPU

[lordsmurf]

Everything about the Mac mini sucks. Slow drives, small drives, limited RAM, crippled CPU, etc. May as well just buy a $600 Windows laptop, which would have a similar CPU but more power elsewhere. And a monitor attached.

Any way you slice it, Apple charges 2x+ more than something is worth. I can get a refurb Windows machine for $300, and the specs blow away the Mac mini. All because it has a picture of a fruit with a bite missing.

[narquespamley]

For what I am using the Mini for, it's superior to any PC alternative. I didn't need ultimate performance or flexibility. What I needed was something small and quiet that I could slip into a stereo rack, and something with a fast and easy-to-use interface for the whole family for photos and MP3's. A laptop is the wrong form factor, as a central point is to use the TV as the output device. For the few times that I need a keyboard, there's a Bluetooth one on the shelf. Most of the time, the standard Mac thumb-sized remote is all that I need, and even then the functions are all programmed on my universal remote.

I looked at small form factor PC alternatives - while they are some exotic ones as quiet as the mini they are quite expensive and similarly performance-compromised. More reasonable alternatives were larger, significantly louder, still more expensive, and uniformly suffered from an inferior, harder-to-use software interface.

My primary desktop and other systems are more conventional small-form-factor PC's and PC laptops, as software availability and flexibility are more important to me in those applications. My media and storage server is a PC desktop chassis running Fedora on a Pentium 3. Performance is entirely up to task, while power consumption and noise are optimized for a system which stays on all the time. And Linux provides ultimate stability for my critical data.

Your mileage may vary, as may your intelligence. Any computer should be judged by suitability to a specific application.

[edDV]

Everything about the Mac mini sucks. Slow drives, small drives, limited RAM, crippled CPU, etc. May as well just buy a $600 Windows laptop, which would have a similar CPU but more power elsewhere. And a monitor attached.

Any way you slice it, Apple charges 2x+ more than something is worth. I can get a refurb Windows machine for $300, and the specs blow away the Mac mini. All because it has a picture of a fruit with a bite missing.

The Mac Mini is a laptop with the monitor, battery and keyboard missing and redefined as a desktop. Isn't this obvious to the casual observer? Apparently not. Apple marketing is good at selling less as more..

[mats.hogberg]

And they are cool! I know the specs for MacBook Air sux big time, it's priced > 3 times what it's worth - But I'm seriously contemplating getting one!

/Mats

[MacDSL]

Waahhhh, Boo-Hoo...I Am Poor and can't make enough money to buy a machine with a piece of fruit with a bite taken out of it... Poor me, well, my machine is better for less anyways....

Please spend $300 on a PC that blows away the mini.
And while you are at it.
Be sure and pick up that carnation instant milk because it's cheaper than real milk.
Be sure to always get generic medicine because it's Always better than the real
And don't forget to chose those manually-operated windows and locks on your car because they work 100% of the time unlike the new-fangled Power Windows that are slower than your cheap hand-crank windows.
And pick up some Polaroid film because it's faster that digital cameras and printer combinations, and cheaper...oh...wait...you can't anymore...


Waaahhhhhhhh....

[Video Head]

Battery life on those is apparently non-existent. It's primary market has been executives who just like having it sitting on their desk to impress others...the Lenovo Thinkpad X300 is much more impressive in the same price range.

[edDV]

Waahhhh, Boo-Hoo...I Am Poor and can't make enough money to buy a machine with a piece of fruit with a bite taken out of it... Poor me, well, my machine is better for less anyways....

Please spend $300 on a PC that blows away the mini.
And while you are at it.
Be sure and pick up that carnation instant milk because it's cheaper than real milk.
Be sure to always get generic medicine because it's Always better than the real
And don't forget to chose those manually-operated windows and locks on your car because they work 100% of the time unlike the new-fangled Power Windows that are slower than your cheap hand-crank windows.
And pick up some Polaroid film because it's faster that digital cameras and printer combinations, and cheaper...oh...wait...you can't anymore...


Waaahhhhhhhh....

What are you talking about? One buys a computer to meet the need. It might be a powerful PC or a MacMini or a ThinkPad. Anyone who thinks one size fits all is probably barefoot.

[MacDSL]

I was referring to LordSmurf, or LordCheapo as the case may be. But as an answer, I don't remember ever purchasing a computer to meet a need. Ever. I always purchase the best I can afford or am willing to spend at the given time. Need is wayy to undefinable as a quantifiable measure to reflect a purchase of anything. In over 20 years of IT Managing or Administrating, or Consulting; I believe you will find it much more helpful to inquire when asked what their "plans" are for it rather than what their "needs" currently are. But that's getting into semantics and not really helpful..
As to what i'm referring to; the whining about Apple being the purveyors of selling less is more is soo weak as an argument. The Mini is not a desktop, nor is it a laptop. I've never seen it marketed as a laptop with parts missing, or a desktop that's half the overall computer for almost as much money. It's a computer.. That's all. It's not a baby, or a philosophy, or a piece of wisdom to be passed down from generation to generation. It's a computer for those who want what it offers. That's it. Nothing more. If the reason you do not like it is because of it's capabilities, then by all means look elsewhere.
But (and i know this happens more than you think) if you don't like it because the Price is too high for you. Then may I suggest looking to kiva.org and applying for one of their loans that will apparently change you life. Maybe that loan could be for a new Apple Computer. Think of the possibilities, you too could change your life with the simple act of borrowing money you don't have and paying more for that great computer deal later....

[Video Head]

I looked at small form factor PC alternatives - while they are some exotic ones as quiet as the mini they are quite expensive and similarly performance-compromised.

I built my mATX media centre for under $400 including video card. It provides expansion slots for video cards, sound cards, etc. It has a large number of USB ports for connecting various devices as well as 5 drive bays. It also fits into my A/V rack very nicely, looking more like a piece of A/V gear than a computer, and it's quiet.

redwudz just posted info on the build of a mITX media centre he just finished. Very cool for $247+taxes. I think I will be building one of these soon:

https://forum.videohelp.com/topic349524.html

[MacDSL]

Exactly what I'm talking about. Lets see. mATX Media Centre for $400 not including and Operating System to actually run it or any software.
Versus $200 more for 1/10th the size, a full operating system, software and DV out.. Sounds like the Mac Mini wins to me...

[Video Head]

Need is wayy to undefinable as a quantifiable measure to reflect a purchase of anything. In over 20 years of IT Managing or Administrating, or Consulting; I believe you will find it much more helpful to inquire when asked what their "plans" are for it rather than what their "needs" currently are.

So a needs assessment is not part of your consultation process? Maybe that is why I see so few Mac's on the corporate desktop...oh wait, I never see any Mac's on the corporate desktop other than those Airbooks but they are never powered on, just a desktop toy. I would gather that Mac integrators sell on the "isn't it cool?" factor rather than assessing needs and selling to the needs. Graphics arts aside, I never see them anymore, even in educational accounts where they used to dominate. Mac seems to be more of a lifestyle rather than a hardcore computer.

[thecoalman]

I was referring to LordSmurf, or LordCheapo as the case may be. But as an answer, I don't remember ever purchasing a computer to meet a need. Ever. I always purchase the best I can afford or am willing to spend at the given time.

I'll bet you own an SUV that has never a seen dirt road in it's life. Does it have the fancy low profile tires and rims?

Being practical is not being cheap.

[SCDVD]

Mac seems to be more of a lifestyle rather than a hardcore computer.

I would call it more of a lifestyle prop for those who don't have the stuff to define their own life.

[Video Head]

Exactly what I'm talking about. Lets see. mATX Media Centre for $400 not including and Operating System to actually run it or any software.
Versus $200 more for 1/10th the size, a full operating system, software and DV out.. Sounds like the Mac Mini wins to me...

That does include OS and software...it also includes the video card with composite, S-Video, component, DVI and VGA out. Also includes composite and S-video in. Also includes SPDIF out. Also includes audio out. Also includes 10/100/1000 ethernet. Also includes front panel 6in1 card reader. Also includes wireless keyboard and mouse. Also includes remote control.

[Dv8ted2]

Waahhhh, Boo-Hoo...I Am Poor and can't make enough money to buy a machine with a piece of fruit with a bite taken out of it... Poor me, well, my machine is better for less anyways....

Please spend $300 on a PC that blows away the mini.

I did. I built my own.

Be sure and pick up that carnation instant milk because it's cheaper than real milk.

- off base

Be sure to always get generic medicine because it's Always better than the real.

You have never worked in a pharmacy, I see. It is the same medication that is made by a different company. Why pay more, for the same thing?

[ffooky]

Aesthetically pleasing design. Ease of use. Good resale value. Snob value. Effortless ability to run and update any modern OS, including the one that they prefer. Because they like the f***ing things. Because they may not want one of the most expensive and used objects in their homes to look like a sixth form technology project. Because they like the f***ing things. The (current) effective nonexistence of malware. Because they may be *gasp* female. Steve Ballmer. Brand loyalty. Because they've had problems with Windows and don't feel confident/competent enough to run Linux. Because someone they know has one and they enjoyed using it. Because they like the f****ing things.

[Dv8ted2]

Aesthetically pleasing design. Ease of use. Good resale value. Snob value. Effortless ability to run and update any modern OS, including the one that they prefer. Because they like the f***ing things. Because they may not want one of the most expensive and used objects in their homes to look like a sixth form technology project. Because they like the f***ing things. The (current) effective nonexistence of malware. Because they may be *gasp* female. Steve Ballmer. Brand loyalty. Because they've had problems with Windows and don't feel confident/competent enough to run Linux. Because someone they know has one and they enjoyed using it. Because they like the f****ing things.

It has the opposite effect. It makes the apple faithful look stupid and look like jerks. :wink:

[ffooky]

I'm no more one of the Apple faithful than I am one of the Gibson, Heinz, Twinings, Quorn, Encona, Samsung, Primark, Woolworths, Converse, cheap market no-brand knock-off, Camel, Guinness, Saxa, Fender, Toshiba, Breville, Tesco, Kelloggs, Zanussi, LG, Tilda, Kitchen Devil or Ikea faithful but people aren't irritated by those choices nor make fatuous, uniformed armchair socio-psychologist assumptions about them.
Paragraphs ? We don't need no steenking paragraphs

[aedipuss]

we do need vox ac-30 amps for those gibsons, fenders, brian moore's, prs's, etc., though. and celestion speakers in 4x12 cabs....

macs, eh if you gotta you gotta... just like i wouldn't trade my guitar equipment for the world.

[SERBIAN]

[JohnnyMalaria]

I'm no more one of the Apple faithful than I am one of the Gibson

God, I love my Les Paul

Heinz

God, I love Heinz Baked Beans on toast. A local supermarket carries them - thankfully

Twinings

Hmm. PG Tips for me - I can get them from Amazon at a fair price

Quorn

Soy's dirty little secret - it's a toxin packaged as green hippie food - which it ain't

Encona

Dunno

Samsung

Mixed experience

Primark

Dunno

Woolworths

Cafe used to be okay when being dragged around the shops with my mum

Converse

Dunno

cheap market no-brand knock-off

Quite

Camel

Used to - don't smoke anymore

Guinness

My fav until I gave up alcohol

Saxa

The salt?

Fender

Nah - my Strat just ain't the same as my LP

Toshiba

'Ello John, gotta Toshiba

Breville

Toasted sandwich maker - luvverly

Tesco

If I could have one thing in this world it would be a Tescos less than 4000 miles away - although my mum brings bits of it twice a year

Kelloggs

Shite - like most cereal

Zanussi

The appliance of....

LG

Variable

Tilda

Dunno

Kitchen Devil

Bit of mix

Ikea

Weird. Ikea in the UK had (still has?) this somewhat superior positioning. In the US it is on a par with MFI.

[aedipuss]

God, I love my Les Paul

how do you like the new self-tuning les pauls? tried one out yet? i can't decide if i like'm or not.

God, I love Heinz Baked Beans...

prefer their ketchup and B&M's for my beans.

[zoobie]

light as a dobro...